Alabama Football Update: Saban expects “difficult” game with Wildcats on the road; Deflects questions about Paul Bryant Jr.’s business concerns.

By Hunter Ford

Nick Saban expects a competitive game with a Kentucky Wildcat team sporting a poor record, but showing promise.

While most of his weekly press conference dealt with on-field player critiques, Saban was asked about off-field problems, and about his thoughts on Paul Bryant, Jr., a university trustee and son of Paul “Bear” Bryant.

Saban described Bryant as a “great supporter” of the university who has done a lot to help Alabama athletics as well as academics. Saban said Alabama has a “great team” of administrators, trustees, alumni and fans. He said he has never felt any “meddling from the outside.”

Saban was asked vague questions about Bryant’s business interests and whether Saban had any concerns about them.

“I don’t understand what you’re asking me,” Saban responded. “I don’t have any knowledge of that, so I can’t really comment on it.”

Saban did not specifically address the suspension of safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, but he did address his expectations for his football team.

“Our concern is that we get our players to do the right things, the right way, all the time,” Saban said. Doing that, Saban said, would eliminate distractions and negative perceptions about the program. Saban said that modern culture’s emphasis on “instant gratification” doesn’t mix well with football.

“The ‘me first’ mentality is difficult to have in a great team sport like football,” he said.

Kentucky Better Than Record

Alabama football coach Nick Saban said Kentucky is a better team than its record shows. The Wildcats are 1-4 with losses to Western Kentucky, Louisville, Florida and South Carolina. The lone win came against Miami of Ohio.

Saban said Kentucky has shown promise offensively and features a duel threat quarterback, Jalen Whitlow, a product of Prattville. Saban said the Wildcats have a “solid defensive team,” and good specialists.

“We expect this to be a difficult game,” Saban said. “I think our players need to prepare for this team with a lot of respect, and I think our players understand how difficult it is to play on the road in our league.” Saban said the Tide would face “greater resistance” as each week progresses in SEC play. “The games in front of us will be more and more challenging,” he said.

Alabama Special Teams Indicate Team Toughness

Saban had praise for Kentucky’s special teams, saying good special teams play often tells a lot about a team’s toughness. The Tide coach also expressed admiration for his own squad’s special teams efforts.

“We’ve had probably more guys make plays on special teams (this season) as we have in the past,” Saban said. He said he hoped that unit would continue to “create advantages” for the Tide.

Alabama Receivers and Quarterbacks Get Praise From Saban

Saban called the Alabama receiving corps “unique” and said each receiver brings different skills to the table. He said Kevin Norwood was a clutch player, who could be counted on at critical times. He praised DeAndrew White’s practice habits, which he credited with helping White’s game performance, and he said Christion Jones, “could play running back,” and is a “good returner.” Saban said each receiver compliments the others in a different way.

Saban said said A.J. McArron has helped the Tide by not making poor decisions and turning the ball over.

“As long as we end every drive with a kick, whether it’s a punt or a field goal, or an extra point, we’re better off than with other things that could happen,” he said.

It sounded like Scabbutt slipped a ringer into the Presser. Those were the most dumbass, low blow questions I’ve heard at a game week Presser since the Penn St scandal. That SOB should and probably will be banned from the campus. What retarded nerve. If I had been there I would probably be in jail right now for beating the shit out of the guy. If there were some kind of problem at Bama similar to Albert Means, it might be different. But with Saban there will never be that problem. There is no need for that problem. Bama gets the very best free. The only problem we might have is just like the alleged Fluker thing – pimp agents giving high round draft choices impermissible money to sign with them later. And that has nothing to do with the University or its boosters – although the repercussions could. What PBJ does in his private life is nobody’s business but the authorities IF it is not entirely above board. He would never do anything to harm the University, and any dumbass who uses his Press credentials to push Saban into commenting on something that stupid; needs to have his balls removed. I volunteer for the job! RTR!